by Donna Grant
“Actually, the governments always have,” Ryder stated.
Her mind was officially blown. She turned back to the wall and realized that the dates were the months before and after she was conceived.
Yet no matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find a man’s name connected with her mother. Ryder hadn’t been lying. Her mother hadn’t been seeing anyone.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
Dmitri said, “We doona either.”
“I wasn’t magically conceived. There had to be a man somewhere.” She sorted through her memories of the times her mother had spoken of her father—it hadn’t been often. “Maybe she had a one-night stand and didn’t want to tell me.”
Dmitri shook his head. “You always said she spoke the truth about everything. There was no need to lie to you about this, right?”
“And what if you’d wanted to know your father’s name?” Ryder asked. “I bet she was prepared to tell you.”
“She was. It was written down. After she died, I burned the letter without opening it.” Now she wished she had read it, just so she could give the name now.
Ryder returned to the family tree. “We’ll get back to your father in a moment. How far can you trace your family line?”
Faith glanced at him, laughing. “My great-grandmother. I was never into learning my family history, why?”
“Ryder traced you all the way back to the tenth century,” Dmitri explained.
Now her mind was truly blown. She ran her gaze up the tree, the names all a blur. “How?”
“It was simply a matter of designing a program and plugging in your name,” Ryder said.
He made it sound as if he’d just baked a cake, not detailed her family history back eleven hundred years. She didn’t recognize any names, then again, she might be able to if she could see clearly.
But the shock had a discernable effect on her.
Dmitri pushed her down into a chair, which was a good thing because her knees had been about to give out.
“How does an archeologist who loves history not care about her own?” Ryder asked.
Faith blinked. He was right. She loved history, craved it. Why then had she never cared about discovering where she came from? “I don’t know. It never mattered.”
“I think it did,” Dmitri said. With a motion to Ryder, the family tree shrank, and a map was pulled up beside it. “Look at the places you went to dig.”
She leaned forward as he pointed out places her family was from on the tree to the exact places she’d gone to dig. Had she been looking for her past the entire time?
And once more, her theory on there being no destiny was kicked right out the door.
“What does this mean?” she asked.
Ryder finished off his donut and crossed his arms over his chest as he stood next to her. “It means that you were subconsciously looking for answers. It took you to Fair Isle.”
“I thought a beacon took me there.”
Dmitri smiled. “Ryder found your notes. Six years ago, you wrote down places you would visit to excavate. Fair Isle was one of them. And last on the list.”
Long before she’d felt drawn to go there. “I think my head is going to explode.”
“Now you understand why we find it so curious that there’s no mention of your father,” Ryder said. “I’ll find it. I always do. It’s just taking me longer than usual.”
Faith rubbed her hands along her thighs as her gaze went to Fair Isle on the map. If she went there, then that meant she had family there. Which meant … Her gaze slid to Dmitri.
“Aye,” he said. “I believe that your ancestors were some of the same mortals who inhabited the isles I ruled.”
“But you said no humans were on Fair then.”
“They took over as we were leaving.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Please tell me that one of my ancestors isn’t the person responsible for all of this.”
“I can no’ say that for certain,” Ryder said.
She could read between the lines. “But it looks that way. Right?”
Dmitri nodded. “It does.”
“This just gets better and better,” she said, wanting to sink into a hole.
Dmitri squatted beside her and took her hand. “It doesna change how I feel about you. It never will.”
“Don’t be too hasty with that promise. Ryder isn’t finished digging into my past.”
“Your family’s past,” Ryder corrected.
She shrugged. “Same difference.”
“It’s no’,” Dmitri said. “This has nothing to do with you. You’re connected to these people by blood, but you were no’ there to make decisions with them. So doona carry the weight of their actions.”
It made her feel a little better, though the embarrassment of having such a family might never go away. “What now?” she asked. “How do we link my family to the Druids or the Fae?”
Ryder tapped his chin. “It willna be easy, but I’ll see how the dots connect.”
“How much time do we have?”
“As long as that damn wooden dragon is contained, we should be fine,” Dmitri said.
She rose to her feet and faced them. “This could happen again. On top of Ulrik’s and the Dark’s attacks. Let me help. My skills at digging don’t stop with the earth. I’m skilled at following the past and ascertaining details.”
Ryder turned to retrieve something. He faced her and held out a laptop. “Everything you need is on there.”
“You knew I’d ask?”
Dmitri smiled when Ryder looked his way. “I might’ve suggested that you would most likely want to be involved.”
One of many reasons she’d fallen so hard and so quick for her dragon. “I love you. Now, let’s get to work.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
While Faith was lost in her searches on the laptop, Dmitri made his way to Con’s office. The door was open, and he walked in to find Con staring at a file.
Suddenly, the King of Kings looked up at Dmitri. “Come in,” Con bade.
Dmitri entered and lowered himself into one of the chairs. “I suppose Ryder has already filled you in on what he discovered about Faith?”
“Aye. I also know she’s helping. That’s no’ what really brought you in here, though, is it?”
Dmitri shook his head. “I’m taking her as my mate.”
“I assumed as much.”
Dmitri expected a fight, or an argument, at least. This was something entirely different. It made him a little uneasy, especially knowing everything that had occurred since Faith was brought to Dreagan.
“I’ve surprised you,” Con said.
“You could say that.”
“Maybe I’m tired of fighting what seems to be inevitable.”
Dmitri frowned, something in Con’s voice setting off warning bells. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“History is repeating itself. It always does.”
“It doesna have to.”
“And yet, it will.”
“You still believe a human will betray us?”
Con blew out a long breath. “I do. We bring them to Dreagan for protection. A few we’ve sussed out were working with Ulrik. We managed to change their way of thinking, but when will it happen that we doona realize their connection to him? When will it happen that we can no’ make them see our side of the story?”
“When will the betrayal come?” Dmitri asked. Damn. Con was right. It was coming. It was simply a matter of time.
Constantine nodded. “Now do you understand why I worry each time one of you falls in love with a mortal? Now do you comprehend why I try so hard to stop any of you from bringing them here?”
“And yet you doona prevent us.”
“Our pledge to protect the humans willna end. As long as one of them is brought into our war and turns to us for help, it is our duty to shield them as best we can.”
Dmitri rested his ankle atop his knee. “And you wait.
”
“I wait, and I observe. Ryder digs into every mortal’s life that is brought to Dreagan. I’ll find out if there is another betrayal.”
“You discovered it the first time, as well. How?”
Con didn’t flinch, didn’t so much as bat an eye. But Dmitri still noticed a subtle difference in him. It was so faint that anyone could’ve missed it.
Then again, Dmitri had been looking for just such a sign.
“One of Ulrik’s Silvers noticed some strange things. He came to me with his suspicions because he was concerned. The misgivings were such that I took action.”
“How? You didna have Ryder.”
“You think because Ryder didna have his computers and electronics that he couldna poke into a life? Even then, Ryder found a way to learn all there was. But you’re right. I didna turn to Ryder. If my fears were true, I didna want anyone else involved until I knew the facts.”
Dmitri sat straighter in the chair, dropping his foot to the floor. “You dug into the mortal’s life?”
“Doona sound so surprised. This was my best friend’s, my brother’s happiness on the line. I wanted absolute definitive proof. I needed it.”
“I suppose you found it.”
“It was no odd thing for me to visit Ulrik. We were often at each other’s settlements, so my appearance didna draw attention. On the surface, everything appeared as it was supposed to. It went on like that for several months. I saw how much Ulrik loved his mortal, and how much she doted on him.”
Dmitri linked his fingers over his midsection. “What changed?”
“It was so slight that if I hadna been looking for it, I would’ve missed it. We were at dinner. Do you remember the huge feasts Ulrik gave?”
“Aye,” Dmitri said with a nod. “He left his doors open for anyone who wanted to join.”
“That night, his hall was bursting with mortals. The day of his mating ceremony was approaching rapidly, and he was in great spirits. We’d spent the afternoon with his Silvers, flying, training, and feasting. That night was his time with the humans.
“Ulrik was able to be in both our world and theirs with ease. I think it was his jovial nature and how easily he trusted. Because he trusted everyone, I felt it was my job to mistrust all to keep the balance.”
It was still easy for Dmitri to remember the old Ulrik, the dragon who everyone loved. Ulrik hadn’t had a single enemy—that they knew of.
“That night, Ulrik leaned over to kiss his woman,” Con continued. “She returned the kiss, but it was when she turned away that I saw her look of utter disgust. And that’s when I knew everything I’d suspected was true.”
“Is that when you sent Ulrik away and called for us?” Dmitri asked.
“I watched her for a few days first. She would wait until Ulrik left to be with his Silvers, and then she rushed from the house into the village to another residence.”
Dmitri’s lips compressed for a moment. “It was a mortal’s dwelling, and you’d have no reason to go in after her.”
“Exactly. She remained there most of the day, returning to Ulrik’s house shortly before he returned home. He kept to a schedule that allowed her such movements. So, I then turned my attention to the place she visited. I watched it for days, but never saw anyone leave but her.”
“I still doona know how you pieced together that she was going to try and kill him.”
Con shrugged and lowered his black eyes to his desk. “I wasna able to go into the home, but I got close enough to hear what she was planning.”
Con grew quiet, and Dmitri knew he was reliving that day. “Was she alone?”
“Nay,” Con said and looked up at him. “There was someone with her, but I couldna tell if it was a man or a woman. They disguised their voice as if they knew I was listening.”
“Or thought someone might be.”
“True,” Con said with a twist of his lips. “The mortal was planning to kill Ulrik. I knew she couldna harm him, but I also knew what her actions would do to him. I had to prevent that.”
“You thought to save your friend.”
“And I lost him instead.” Con sighed and leaned forward to rest his forearms on the desk. “I put the spell in place that we would never feel anything for the humans again because I knew that debacle would happen again. I lost one brother. I didna want to lose another.”
Dmitri ran a hand through his hair. “Why did you never tell us that story?”
“None of you really wanted to know. Because none of you have ever asked.”
“I never wanted a mate.”
Con nodded slowly. “You preferred the Fae. Yet you’re here, telling me you’re going to mate a mortal.”
“I love Faith.”
“I know.”
Dmitri held Con’s gaze. “Are you worried that she’ll be controlled or called again by whoever used the Fae/Druid magic?”
“Without a doubt. I was affected by it, as well. Though I doona remember what I said, Lily gives me a wide berth. I’ve asked her repeatedly to tell me everything that happened, but she refuses. She says it willna do anyone any good.”
“Which means it was quite dreadful.”
Con smiled ruefully. “I heard the things you said when I came upon you in the cavern with Faith. If my tirade was anything like yours, I can only imagine how awful it was.”
“Rhi has the magic contained, though,” Dmitri said.
“She does. Rhi’s magic is strong and should hold that piece of wood so that nothing else happens, but I want to be prepared in case something else does.”
Dmitri looked around. “Where is the orb with the dragon?”
“Rhi took it to get it away from Dreagan.”
That brought Dmitri to Ulrik.“What about Ulrik? He didna approach Faith or me as he has with the others.”
Con raised a brow as he shook his head. “I doona know, but be thankful.”
“Ulrik could be getting ready to attack.”
“Most likely, but I’ll be his focus. Let me worry about my upcoming battle.”
Dmitri leaned an elbow on the arm of his chair. “Did you ever tell Ulrik about his woman? About how you followed her?”
“I tried. He didna want to hear it.”
“I doona guess he would.”
Dmitri couldn’t imagine how he’d feel if he learned Faith wanted to kill him. No wonder Ulrik had been lost to his grief and anger. None of them had understood it then, but they were slowly beginning to as each of them fell in love.
And it also made sense why Ulrik made a point of going after the women the Kings were interested in. Ulrik wanted his fellow dragons to hurt as he’d hurt.
“When do you and Faith want the ceremony?” Con asked.
Dmitri blinked. “Soon.”
“Darius and Sophie, Ryder and Kinsey, as well as Asher and Rachel have also requested to be mated.”
It was the first Dmitri had heard of the others, but he wasn’t surprised. “One big ceremony, then?”
“After we bury your White.”
“I’ll let Faith know.” He got to his feet and looked to the King of Kings. “Thank you.”
Con didn’t seem to hear him as his attention returned to the open folder. Dmitri briefly thought of trying to see what was in that file, but he decided to return to Faith instead.
As he entered his bedchamber, he smiled at the sight of his woman. She sat cross-legged on the bed with the laptop resting on her legs. The light from the screen illuminated her face, showing a small frown as her eyes moved back and forth while she read.
“It’s rude to stare,” she said without looking up.
He closed the door behind him. “I can no’ help myself from gazing at such beauty.”
Her eyes snapped to his, a smile forming. She closed the computer and set it on the bedside table before getting to her knees and throwing off her shirt.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked with a wink.
Dmitri quickly undressed as he made his way to the b
ed. He wrapped an arm around her as he put a knee on the bed and turned, falling back onto the mattress.
“Where did you disappear to?” she asked before kissing him.
A long kiss later, Dmitri answered. “Con.”
She straddled his chest. “Ah. And what did he have to say?”
“We willna be the only ones doing the mating ceremony.”
Her eyes widened. “So he’s okay with me? Even after everything?”
“It was no’ your doing.”
“But it could happen again.”
“Which is why Rhi is helping us.”
Faith wrinkled her nose. “I think we should talk to Ronnie, as well.”
“No doubt the Druids will be brought into this eventually. For now, let’s enjoy the quiet and peace.”
“And the bed,” she said with a wicked gleam in her eye.
With a flick of his fingers, he unhooked her bra. “Most definitely the bed.”
She tossed aside the garment and looked down at him with her sandy blond hair framing her face and her sherry eyes filled with love. “I hate what brought us together, but I can’t deny that I’m happy to be with you.”
“I can certainly agree with that.” He slid his hands into her hair and brought her face down to his. “I love you.”
“I love you. For you are mine.”
“And you are mine.”
EPILOGUE
Two days later …
Faith stood alongside Dmitri at the front of the gathered Dragon Kings and mates. The mood was somber as they entered Dmitri’s mountain.
The day before, Lily had flown her over the entire sixty thousand acres of Dreagan and shown her Dmitri’s mountain. It should’ve been a day of celebration because Vaughn’s legal expertise had come through and all the MI5 agents were ordered off Dreagan.
Yet, there was a dark cloud still hanging over them because of the wooden dragon she’d found on Fair Isle. Thanks to Ryder’s amazing software program, she’d found more relatives that confirmed her link to Fair.
What she—or Ryder—still hadn’t found was her father.
Dmitri’s fingers squeezed hers as they finally came to the cavern he’d chosen for the burial. Then Con, Roman, Cain, and Nikolai carried in the dragon bones on a pallet draped in white.